It’s no secret that when you crawl under a Toyota Tacoma, the factory protection for vulnerable components is seriously lacking. Move back to the gas tank, and it gets even worse. If you don’t have a specific trim (TRD Off-Road, Pro), you won’t find a skid plate there at all on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Gens. And if you do have an applicable trim, what you’ll see is a flimsy plastic cover that offers about as much protection as the engine cover under your hood. Which is basically none at all.
That’s where Cali Raised steps in. Leveraging their in-house engineering team and background in U.S. manufacturing, they’ve developed a USA-made Tacoma gas tank skid plate that’s both durable and affordable. Even better, they give you options: choose between steel or aluminum, and add powder coating for long-term corrosion resistance and reliability.
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The Problem: Factory Protection Is A Joke
If you do have a factory plastic skid, don’t let that give you a false sense of security. Just like the OEM front skid plate, it’s not made for protection from big impacts. In fact, once you remove it, you can literally bend it in half with your hands, even the light duty metal ones. That’s not protection, that’s decoration.
It’s pretty clear the OEM part wasn’t meant to resist punctures. At best, Toyota intended it to help the tank slide over light obstacles. But here’s the issue… once you start adding armor, gear, and weight to your truck, it only takes the wrong rock at the wrong angle to crack and/or puncture your fuel tank.
And a punctured fuel tank isn’t just inconvenient, it will ruin your trip. For my wife and me, off-roading in remote Nevada, the nearest Toyota dealership is often more than 100 miles away in any direction. That’s why upgrading to a robust aftermarket skid plate is more than just a smart mod – it’s an insurance policy. With companies like Cali Raised offering affordable, American-made options in steel or aluminum, there’s no reason to risk being stranded in the backcountry.
Why An Upgrade Is Non-Negotiable
Often, when building an overlanding rig, you have to apply Murphy’s Law: “What can go wrong, will go wrong.” That’s exactly why a fuel tank skid plate, or skid plates in general, is a non-negotiable upgrade. So many critical components are left exposed underneath the truck with little to no protection from the factory.
And it’s not just about off-road abuse. Even in everyday driving, you’re exposed to risks. Ladders or debris on the freeway, animals crossing the road, or even concrete nails and broken curbs in parking garages. Any one of these can cause serious damage to the underside of your vehicle if it isn’t adequately protected.
The reason manufacturers don’t install heavy-duty skid plates from the factory is simple. Most owners won’t use them, and it saves money on both manufacturing and the sticker price. But for those of us who actually take our trucks off-road, or want peace of mind, adding skid plates is like taking out an insurance policy on our investment.
These trucks are known to last for hundreds of thousands of miles. If you plan to keep yours that long, protecting the underbody now ensures it will go the distance later.
Aluminum Vs. Steel?
This is the age-old question, and like everything in the off-road world, there’s always a trade-off. On my truck, I went with aluminum and powder coating. The aluminum skid plate is about 30 pounds lighter, making installation easier and helping keep overall weight down. Another bonus is that aluminum won’t rust, though it will experience degradation over time. But at a slower and less noticeable rate than steel.
Now let’s look at the steel option. Steel is much stronger than aluminum and can take harder hits, scraping over rocks without issue. But it comes at a cost, weight. At around 70 pounds, it’s more than double the weight of aluminum. Steel also requires more long-term maintenance to protect it from rust.
At the end of the day, any metal skid plate is better than no skid plate at all. The real decision comes down to strength versus weight and how you actually plan to use your truck. My take is that if you’re planning to do hardcore rock crawling and expect serious impacts, go steel. If you’re focused more on overlanding and long-distance travel where weight matters, aluminum is the smarter choice.
Powder Coat Vs. Raw Finish
There’s always a trade-off when it comes to spending money on skid plates, and the cost of powder coating can add up quickly. Fortunately, thanks to Cali Raised’s continued investment in equipment and process improvements, they’ve been able to keep that cost very reasonable.
Having the skid plate powder-coated in-house is only about $40 extra. Personally, I usually finish my armor with Steel-It or Rust-Oleum bed liner, but by the time you buy two cans of either, you’re already at roughly the same $40. In the end, powder coating actually works out to be the more cost and time-effective option.
On top of that, powder coating has clear advantages. It’s stronger, more wear-resistant, and far less likely to scratch or chip over time compared to standard spray paint. Paint can hold up well with proper prep, but it’s simply not as durable as a heat-treated powder coat finish.
How Cali Raised Stands Out
When I look for products for my truck, I usually judge them on a few key categories: quality, ease of install, shipping protection, and customer support. On all of these points, Cali Raised really hit the nail on the head.
On their website, you can choose from four options: steel or aluminum, with either a powder-coated or an unfinished raw finish. Shipping is free/included, which is always a bonus when you’re ordering big, heavy armor.
The skid plate arrived quickly, and the packaging was solid. The product was plastic-wrapped and fully protected inside a sturdy cardboard box. Once unwrapped, the quality was obvious: the laser cutting was sharp, the machine welds were perfectly dialed in, and the powder coat finish looked flawless. Honestly, I couldn’t find a single imperfection on the visible surface once it was mounted under the truck.
As for installation, this fuel tank skid plate is one of the easiest pieces of armor you’ll ever bolt onto your Tacoma. For installation steps, check out our article here. Combine that with Cali Raised’s consistent improvements in customer service, and it’s clear they’re here to deliver high-quality products, and here to stay in the industry for the long haul.
Final Thoughts
When it comes down to it, the Cali Raised Fuel Tank Skid Plate is a no-brainer. It’s affordable, proudly made in the USA, and bolts right up with zero modifications. For any Tacoma owner who plans to venture off the pavement, this isn’t just another mod, it’s a lifeline. Think of it as an insurance policy for your truck: you hope you never need it, but if the day comes, you’ll be glad it’s there.
Steel or aluminum, powder-coated or raw, whichever option you choose, it’s a massive upgrade over the flimsy OEM cover (or worse, nothing at all). This skid plate transforms a vulnerable weak point into a reinforced barrier, giving you the confidence to tackle trails knowing your fuel tank is protected.
Bottom line? If you’re serious about overlanding, exploring, or want peace of mind on the road, this skid plate deserves a spot at the top of your build list.
